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O'Driscoll - Joke on me

Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll admitted the joke was on him after Billy Sharp scored against his old club.

Last Updated: 23/10/10 9:26pm

Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll admitted the joke was on him after Billy Sharp scored against his old club Sheffield United.

Sharp netted in the 42nd minute to put Rovers two up and his celebrations were muted, although he pulled up his jersey to reveal the words 'Fat Lad from Sheffield' on his undershirt.

O'Driscoll admitted afterwards the words were for him following some banter with the striker earlier in the week.

The Rovers boss said: "Last season he got 16 goals and I said to him many times, if he doesn't score another goal, the way he plays I'd take.

"He's bright, he gives defenders a real problem regardless of whether he actually scores, but this season he's got a little bit frustrated.

"He's lost that edge that he had to his game. He thought he could have got a couple of goals (on Tuesday), which would have meant us getting something and we said when you play like you can do you're strong, you're muscular, you're bullish and you give defenders a problem and when you don't, I said, you're just a fat lad from Sheffield.

"It was meant in that light-hearted way that footballers like and unbeknown to me he's gone and put that on his shirt, so maybe he's got his own back."

Sharp had earlier provided the goal assist to James Coppinger to put Rovers one up before he then limped out of the action with a hamstring strain on the stroke of half time.

Overall, O'Driscoll was pleased with the way his side had dominated the Blades, especially in the first period, although he bemoaned the injury to Sharp, who had netted his sixth goal in the game since completing a £1.1million summer switch from United.

The Rovers boss added: "We need to play with a lot of guile and a lot of intelligence. This division is difficult for the smaller clubs, but on our day we can match anybody.

"We need to keep everybody fit and when your top goalscorer might be out for two or three weeks it makes it harder."

Speed disappointed

Blades manager Gary Speed was disappointed with his side's display after they fell short in all areas.

He said: "To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. Our first half performance was unacceptable for Sheffield United really.

"Doncaster wanted it more than us. They were first to everything, second balls, tackles, headers, they won everything.

"They thoroughly deserved it and for me that's unacceptable. You can't play well every week, but if things aren't working then you've to make up for it in other areas and we didn't do that."